Crafters sell their wares at St. Mary Academy

Sunday

Nov 18, 2012 at 3:15 AM

By Oliver Jenkinsojenkins@fosters.com

DOVER — A steady stream of shoppers filed in and out of Saint Mary Academy's gymnasium Saturday during the school's annual Holiday Craft Fair. “We do this every year to benefit the athletic department,” said Dawn Duffy, head of the craft fair and whose husband, Dennis, is the athletic director at Saint Mary Academy. “We've been doing this for probably 20 years now,” she estimated.

Roughly 20 to 30 vendors were on hand Saturday to sell a number of products, some of which included handmade jewelry, soaps, dolls, baby clothing, and Christmas ornaments, among others.

“Students are also selling wreaths for their parents to pick up,” Duffy explained. “And the eighth graders are also here selling items in order to fund their class trip to Boston.”

“It's definitely a pretty good day for local shopping,” said Suzanne Heller, a local resident who had previously been at the First Parish Congregational Church's annual fair next door before stopping by the Academy's craft fair. “It's pretty convenient they're right next to each other too,” she said with a laugh.

A table was also set up to highlight the school's upcoming event to celebrate 100 years of education. Saint Mary Academy, which first opened in 1912, will hold a centennial alumni mass at Mercy Hall on Monday, November 19 to mark the milestone. A reception with refreshments, along with tours of the school, are also slated to take place.